Vacuum cleaner



Feb. 28, 1933.- BE JR 1,899,108

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Dec. 2, 1929 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented F eb. 2:8,.1 933 UNITEQDFTISTAT'ES PATENT eerie-s e, FREDERICK RIEB L; an, or TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR "1'0 AIR-WAY ELECTRIC f APPLIANCE conroanrzon; orv TOLEDO,

OHIO, A CORPORATION or DnLAwAnEfl v VACUUM CLEANER Application filed December 2, 1929. vSerial Na-410,988.

The present invention relating, as indica'ted, tovacuum cleaners has more specific reference to the suction nozzle Commonly employed inconnection with such cleaners and specifically to means for adjusting the positionof the nozzle with-respectto the surface to becleaned as thevacuum cleaner is moved over such surface i-nthe course of its operation. i,

It is common knowledge to those acquainted withthe art that the vertical position of the suction slot in the suction nozzle with respect to the surface to be cleaned should ebe varied to correspond to thecharacteristics of such surface since the distance whlch the suctlonslot of the nozzle is away from the floor surface will-be different for a hard surface, suchas linoleum, than when the suction nozzle is run over the surface of a thick pllecarpet or rug. In addition to'the provision of means for so adjusting the suction nozzle, it is essential to theeificient operation of the machine that both ends ofthenozzle have the samerelative position with respect tothe surface to be cleaned. Not only is it desirable that both sides of the nozzle be readily adj ustable to present the respective ends of the nozzle at equal distances from the floor surface,

7 but an adjustment means in order to be readily adaptable for use in the hands of an inexperienced operator shall be capable :of

making the above described adjustments simply and without any knowledge onthe part ofthe operator as to the particular mechanics by which the equalized adjustment is, ob-

tained. e

It is an object of my invention to provide a means whereby. the verticaladjustment of the suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner with respect to the surface to be cleaned can be ac- 'complished more expediently and with greator degree of accuracy than has heretofore been possible with constructions n common use. It is a further object of my invention to provide a means whereby the adjustment oflboth ends of the suction nozzle with respect to the surface to be cleaned will be the same regardless of the vertical distance To the accomplishment of the foregoing n and related ends," said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying theinvention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used, In said annexed drawing j v Fig. 1 isa part section, part elevation of a suction nozzle fora vacuumcleanerembodying one form of my invention; Fig. 2,-is a fragmentary plan view of the nozzle shown in Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a part section, part elevation' of a suctlon nozzle-showing another,

form of myinventiori Fig. 4 is a transverse section of'the nozzle illustrated in Fig. 3, taken, onthe' plane substantially indicated bythe lines 44; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the nozzle illustrated in Fig. 3, taken on the plane substantially indicated by the lines 5 5.

Referring more specifically to the'draw- I ing and more especially to Fig. 1,'thenozz1e here illustrated consists of a main body 1 i which has integrally united therewith atubular member 2-which is adapted tobe removably secured to the tubular member 3 by means of the collar 4. 'Thebody' 1 of the nozzle has sockets 5 formed in the terminal portions thereof, which sockets are adapted to receive the tangs ,7 and leaf springs ,6

forming the resilient mountings for the wheels 8, as set forth in my copending application Ser. No. 342,9?9, filed February 27, 1929. The main body v1 has bosses 9 formed integrally therewith and adjacent the sockets 5, which bosses 9 have sockets formed therein which areinternallythreaded and adapted to i receive thescrews 10.- The screw 10 has a reduced end 11 which passes through the aperture 12 formed therefor centrally in the upper tang-6 of the wheel mountings, The reduced end 11 of the screw 10 forms a shoulder'12, the diameter of which isgreater than the diameter of the aperture 12 so that the through which such an adjustment maybe 59 made. 100

body of the screw 10 rests upon the upper surface of the spring 6 and when the screw is moved into the socket 5, the spring 6 will be placed under tension.

The screw 10 has its upper terminal portion 13 formed with an arm 1 1 which carries a pin 15 and to which is pivotally secured the adjusting rod 16. Centrally of the main body 1 of the suction nozzle is a projecting boss 17 in which is mounted the supporting screw 18 on which is journalled the collar 19. Collar 19 has a portion 20 thereof formed into a knurled knob by means of which the collar 19 may be turned on the supporting screw 18. Collar 19 has projections 21 and 21" integrally formed therewith which are adapted to secure one end of the adjusting rods 16and 16.

form mountings for the wheels 31., which carry the suction nozzle over the surface to be cleaned, are adjusted by the cam element 32 which is journaled in the walls of the suction nozzle 25, this last-named adjusting means forming the subject matter of the last co-pending application referred to above. The cam element 32 is secured in the walls of the suction nozzle by means of the securing plate 33 engaging the circumferential groove 34 formed on the cam element adjacent the outer surface of one wall of the suc tion nozzle. The securing plate 33 is removably secured to the wall of the suction nozzle by means of the screw 35. The cam element 32 has integrally formed therewith the depending arm 36 which at its lower end 37 carries the pin 38 which revolubly supports the block 39. l

The suction nozzle wall has integrally formed therewith, or otherwise rigidly secured thereto, projecting cars 40 and ll which have elongated apertures 12 formed therein and extending substantially vertically of the supporting ears 10 and 11. The blocks 39, which are revolubly mounted on the pins 38 and thereby secured to the terminal portions 37 of the arms 36,have threaded apertures 43 extending centrally thercthrougli, which threaded apertures are adapted to threadably engage the threaded terminal portions 44 and '45 of the rod 16. The rod 16 passes through the apertures 42 in the members 40 and 41, and rigidly secured to the rod intermediately of the supporting members 10 and a1 is a preferably knurled collar 4L7, by means of which the rod 456 may be rotated. The operation of the various forms of my invention will now be briefly described.

When the suction nozzle is run over a surfaceto be cleaned which is of the type necessitating a change in the distance between the suction slot and the surface over which the tool passes from the distance at which the wheels are normally maintained the screws 10, as illustrated in Fig. 1, may be rotated in a'clockwise direction, and being so rotated will pass downwardly through the threaded boss 9 and depress the s ring 6 of the moimtings for the wheels 8. Ks the tension between the tangs 7 and springs 6 is increased the weight of the cleaner resting on the wheels 8 will force the suction nozzle a greater distance from the floor than when the tension between the tangs 7 and springs 6 is less. The projecting reduced end 11 of the screw 9 which extends through the aperture 12 in the tang 6 will prevent an excessive upward movement of the spring 7 and therefore materially assists in maintain- P ing the proper relation between the suction slot and the surface to be cleaned. As hereinbefore explained, for the efiicient operation of the suction tool it is essential that the vertical adjustment for both supporting wheels be the same in order to insure a uniform passage of the suction slot over the floor surface. This simultaneous adjustment of the screws 10, by means of which the distance between the suction slot and the floor is controlled, iseffected by means of the adjusting arms 16 and 16 which are connected to the knurled adjusting screw 20. By turning the screw 20, either clockwise or counterclockwise, by hand or like means, the screws 10 l can be simultaneously caused to respectively descend or elevate in the threaded bosses 9 and thereby effect a simultaneous like adj ustment of both wheel supporting means.

In the form of adjusting means for the Wheel mountings as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4:

and 5 the cam element 32, upon being rotated,

will depress the spring 28 of the wheel mountings for the wheel 31 and effect adjustment similar to that hereinbefore described in connection with the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. In order to accomplish a simultaneous and like adjustment of the supporting means for both wheels of the suction nozzle illustrated in Figs. 3, 1 and 5 a rotation of the knurled collar 47, which may be effected by hand or otherwise, will rotate the rod 46 which, through its threaded engagement with the blocks 39, will simultaneously move each of the arms 36 a like amount. It will be noted in this connection that the members 10 and 41. serve as lateral supporting means for the collar 4-7 and maintain the arms 36 in the position to which they have been moved by the actuation of the adjusting rod 46. Thedirection in which the faces of the cams 32 are disposed with respect to the tangs 28 will govern the direction of the slope of the threads on the threaded terminal portions 44 of rod 46. If the cam faces are arranged as illustrated in Fig. 3'the slope of the threads on the threaded portion of the rod 46 willbe suchasto effect a depression of the tangs 28, the rod 46 will preferably be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the thread on the left-hand terminal portion of the rod 46 willbea right-hand thread and thatjon the right-hand terminal threaded portion ofthe rod-46will beja lefthand thread, so that upon clockwise rota-;

tion of the rod 46 the blocks 39 will be moved toward each other to effect a simultaneous and like adjustment of the wheel mountings.

It will be seen that the mechanisms comprising my invention provide a means for simultaneously adjusting the wheel mountings or" the suction nozzle which control the dis tance between'thesuction slot and the surface over which the cleaner is'operated, and hav ing effected this adjustment will positively maintain same untilchanged by the operator actuating one of the described adjusting means. i Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being'made as regards the mechanism hereinfldisclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out anddistinctly claim as my invent-ion 1. In a vacuum cleaner, afloor tool, individual resilient supporting devices mounted on said tool near the respective ends thereof,

said devices each having aprojecting mov-.

able wheel carrying part, floor wheels-journailed on said parts, an adjusting screw. en gaged between a portion of. a respective supporting device and an adjacent portion of the floor tool threadably associated: with one of said portions and engaged against the other so as to carry the weight of thefloor tool to said device, a resilient portion of each device being interposed between its adjust-- ing screw and its respective floor wheel and carrying the weight of the floor tool to said,

1 wheel, and means vfor simultaneouslyrotating said adjusting screws.

2 Ina vacuum cleaner, afloor tool having end sockets, individual supportingmeans mount-ed in the respective sockets, said supporting means having arcuately Imovable wheel carrying parts. extending outwardly beyond the sockets, individual adjustment devices mounted in the respective sockets and engaging the respective supporting means for adjustably controlling the arcuate move,

ment thereof and meansfor simultaneously actuating said devices.

3. In a vacuum cleaner," a floor tool, in-

dividual support-ingdevices mounted. there.- g

on near the respective ends thereof, each having a projecting wheel carrying part,

floor wheels journalled on the ;.respective floor tool, ea'chhaving a non-cylindrical pore tion engaging'a respective supporting device and adapted, when rotated. to vary the positionof the supporting device relative. to the floor tool, and means for simultaneously .rotating sald ad ustment devices.-

4. In a vacuum cleaner, afioor tool, a

floor wheel, a resilient supporting device mounted on thefioor tool,said device having a pro ecting, movable part on which said wheel is ournalled, and anadjusting. screw engaged between a portion of said device and an adjacent portion of the floor tool, thread-- ably associated with one of said portions, and engaged against the other so as to-c-arry the Weight of the floortool to said device, a resilient portion of saiddevice being interposed between said adjust-ing. screw and the floor wheel and carrying the weight of the floor tool, to said wheel. I

5. In a vacuum-cleaner, a floor tool, a sup port wheel, a tang on which said wheel is I journalled, a leaf spring secured to said tang at one end and spaced therefrom at a distance from said end, said tang'and leaf spring constituting a mounting which is fulcrumed relative to the floortool at-the end where] said tang and "spring are secured together, a and anad ustlng scrwyengaged between the spaced portionofsaid spring and an adjacent portion of the floor tool, said screw being threadablyassociated with one of said portions and engaged against the other so as to carry the weight of thefloor tool to said device.

Y 6. In a vacuum cleaner, a floor tool, a floor Wheel, a resilient mounting on which said wheel is journalled, said mounting including a leaf spring fulcrumed'at its end remote from the wheel, relative tothe floor tool, and an adjusting screw engaged between a por-- tionof said spring and an ad acentportlon" of the floor tool, and threadably associated with one of said portions and engaged 7 0 parts, adjustment devices journalled in the gaging the spring, and being threadably associated with the floor tool.

8. In a vacuum cleaner, a floor tool, a supporting wheel, a resilient mounting on which said wheel is journalled, said mounting including a leaf spring, being iulcrumed at a point remote from the wheel,,relative to the floor tool, said spring havmg an opening.

\ and an adjusting screw threadably associated with the floor tool and engaging said leaf spring.

- 10. In a vacuum cleaner, a floor tool having a socket, a supporting wheel, a tang on which said supporting wheel is journalled, said tang being received in the socket and its end remote from the wheel being fulcrumed in the end of the socket, an adjusting screw threadably mounted in the floor tool, and resilient means interposed between said adjusting screw and said tang.

11. In a vacuum cleaner, a floor'tool having asocket, a supporting wheel, a tang on which said wheel is journalled, said tang being received in said socket and its end remote from the wheel being fulcrumed against the end of the socket, an adjusting screw threadably mounted in the floor tool and projecting into said socket and a leaf spring secured to said tang at one end and at its other end spaced from the tang and engaging said adjusting screw.

12. In a vacuum cleaner, a floor tool, floor wheels, individual resilient supporting means on which said wheels are journalled, said means being movably mounted on .the floor tool near its respective ends, individual adjusting devices engaging the respective supporting means and carrying the weight of the floor tool to said supporting means, resilient portions of said supporting means being interposed between the adjusting devices and the wheels whereby the floor tool is resiliently carried by the floor wheels in a series of normal riding positions determined by the positions of adjustment of said adjusting devices and the existence of a balance between the weight of the cleaner and the tension of the resilient supporting means when flexed under said weight, and means for simultaneously actuating said adjustment devices.

13. In a vacuum cleaner, a floor tool, floor wheels, individual resilient supporting means on which said wheels are journalled, said means being movably mounted on the floor tool near its respective ends, individual adjusting devices rotatably mounted in the respective end portions of the tool, and including movable portions engaging the respective supporting means in positions of adjustment variable under rotation of said devices, and carrying the weight of the floor tool to said supporting means, whereby the floor tool ,is resiliently carried by the floor wheels in a series of normal riding positions determined by the positions of adjustment of said adjusting devices and the existence of a balance between the weight of the cleaner and the tension of the resilient supporting means when flexed under said weight said adjustingdevices having axial portions projecting from the floor tool, lever arms secured to said axial portions, and means for swinging said arms, comprising a handle element mounted on a shaft extending between said arms and threaded at its ends, and blocks threaded upon said threaded ends and pivoted to said arms, whereby rotation of the shaft will cause said blocks to move longitudinally of the shaft, thorebyswinging the arms.

14. I11 a vacuum cleaner, a floor tool, floor wheels, individual resilient supporting means on which said wheels are journalled, said means being movably mounted on the floor tool near its respective ends, individual adjusting devices rotatably mounted in the respective end portions of the tool, and including movable portions engaging the respective supporting means in positions of adjustment variable under rotation of said devices, and carrying the weight of the floor tool to said supporting means, whereby the floor tool is resiliently carried by the floor wheels in a seriesof normal riding positions determined by the positions of adjustment of said adjusting devices and the existence of a balance between the weight of the cleaner and the tension of the resilient supporting means when flexed under said weight, said adjusting devices having axial portions projecting from the floor tool, lever arms secured to said axial portions, and means for swinging said arms, comprising a handle element rotatably mounted on the floor tool intermediate said arms, and links pivoted to the handle element and to the respective lever arms and arranged to transmit turning movement of the handle to the arms to swing the same.

Signed by me, this 26th day of November, 1929.

FREDERICK RIEBEL, JR. 

